Excursions

Weekdays, noon-3pm

Like the name suggests, Excursions is a daily journey across musical genres and eras. Niki Dakota guides listeners through a broad cross-section of the newest music from Ohio, around the world, and everything in between while also spending time with beloved classic tunes. Each day is an adventure and on Wednesdays, you'll hear the fresh tunes from great artists new and old during the noon hour. Play for fun and prizes on Thursday Threads, and you can put a song on the playlist every Friday when we spin theme tunes.

Todd the Fox and Queen Victoria talk about their experience as music coordinators for Sideshow X, which features 40 bands/solo performers. The theme of this year is rejuvenation and reflection, looking at the future and past of music, comedy, and art. They also talk about the Yellow Cab building, a center point for art in Dayton with local art, food, and beer, and the home for the event.

Back from a hiatus since their last record came out, Nathan Peters of Captain of Industry and Columbus-based artist Happy Chichester talk about how they met, where they’ve been, and new skills picked up since they last played. Happy Chichester plays and sings a few songs on guitar incorporating his unique throat singing.

Change Your Hue Blues Concert is an evening of food, music and fundraising in support of the United Methodist Children's Home. Hall of Fame Blues host Shakin Dave Hussong joined Niki Dakota in the studio and WYSO Resource Board member and event co-organizer Don Hiyashi via phone to talk about the music and the event

Nashville-based songwriter Olivia Frances has roots in Cincinnati and brought her upbeat tunes to the WYSO studios for a live set on Excursions. She and Niki Dakota chatted about her tour, the joys and challenges of social media and more.

Olivia Frances will perform at the Spirited Goat Coffeehouse in Yellow Springs on Friday, April 24th.

This weekend, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company will present a world premiere performance of An Evening of Ellington, which will feature the music of Duke Ellington performed by the University of Dayton's jazz ensemble. Choreographer Alvin Rangel and DCDC's Jay Peterson joined Niki Dakota in the WYSO studios for conversation about the show.

An Evening of Ellington is Saturday, April 18th at the Dayton Masonic Center

The title of Keigo Hirakawa's new album, And Then There Were Three refers to a composition Hirakawa wrote about his sons. Hirakawa and his trio visited the WYSO studios ahead of the CD release party for a live set on Excursions.

Keigo Hirakawa Trio will celebrate the release of And Then There Were Three on Sunday, April 12th at Gilly's in downtown Dayton.

Sedona-based band, Decker made its way to Ohio in the midst of a 40 show tour for an acoustic set on Excursions ahead of a gig in Cincinnati. The band chatted with Niki Dakota about their newly self-released album, the tour, and more.

The three organizations that make up the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance are collaborating on a presentation of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. Singers from Dayton Opera will be accompanied by music from the Dayton Philharmonic and dance from the Dayton Ballet. Members of the cast and crew visited the WYSO studios to talk about the upcoming performance and share some musical previews on Excursions.

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance's presentation of The Pearl Fishers is onstage at the Schuster Center April 17th and 19th.

Nasty Bingo return to the WYSO studios for a live set on Excursions ahead of their Yellow Springs performance. The band talked with Music Director Niki Dakota about the origin of their name, their recording project and more.

Nasty Bingo will performance at the Emporium in Yellow Springs on Friday, March 27th.

As Wright State University's Creative Arts Center undergoes a renovation, the College of Liberal Arts will celebrate its 16th annual Arts Gala. The event showcases the work of students majoring in the fine and performing arts, and several of those students along with Jennie Buckwalter, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts, visited the WYSO studios to chat with music director Niki Dakota.